In this guide, we will look at the light aircraft flying club community and the vital role it plays in creating lifelong friendships for pilots.
Flying aircraft is more than just about adrenaline rides and following procedures. It is a lifestyle that can completely change your life for the better.
Private pilots that go on to operate light aircraft maintain a close network of like-minded friends that are bound to become like family. The aviation community thrives on these relationships and the passion that each pilot has for aviation – it truly is unlike any other hobby on the planet.
If you are looking to get into aviation for the thrills, then you may be surprised by just how much your life can change both socially and personally once you embark on your journey for a pilot license.
In this guide, we will look at the light aircraft flying club community and the vital role it plays in creating lifelong friendships for pilots.
Aviation Clubs and Community
The aviation community is made by aviators, for aviators! Every leisure activity has a supportive community that acts as a hub for like-minded individuals where people can meet other fellow enthusiasts and make lifelong friends. Aviation, though, is kind of unique because this industry already had a community even before the first flight.
Back when aviation was in its beginning stages, there was a collection of engineers, inventors, dreamers, and enthusiasts that wanted to take on the ambitious task of putting humans in the skies.
This collective ambition sparked the basis of the very first aviation community and even though communication wasn’t as widespread as it is today, people used to travel far and wide to see the progress that was being made in the name of aviation.
Before the first flight in 1903, there were several aircraft designs that were thought to be the future of aviation. Even though these early designs were mostly unmanned and didn’t fly for more than a few minutes, they were touted to be the first steps in the direction of air travel.
This idea alone was enough to motivate people from all around the world to contribute their ideas and designs to make this dream a reality.
Interestingly, the pre-aviation community was also closely linked to the scientific community. After all, flying is a combination of mechanics and science. There were quite a lot of physicists involved in the early years of aviation, and with the help of engineers, we were able to come up with a more comprehensive understanding of the physics and mechanics of flight. In fact, fields like aerodynamics and even fluid dynamics saw a lot of progress which eventually led to flight-capable designs.
However, just cracking the code for flying wasn’t enough. There was also another mechanical problem to solve. Despite viable aircraft designs, we still hadn’t figured out the key to controlling aircraft. Fortunately, two aviation enthusiasts were already working on solving this problem and getting the first plane in the air.
The Wright brothers were self-proclaimed engineers and inventors who wanted to add a viable and reliable controlling system to not just fly but also land aircraft back safely. Their collective efforts, combined with the contributions of the early aviation community led to them inventing the 3-axis design, the world’s first aircraft control system that allowed pilots to precisely guide a plane in the air.
After a few test flights, the brothers were ready to unveil their invention to the world, and in 1903 they successfully flew their beloved aircraft affectionately called, Kitty Hawk. News travelled around the world and suddenly, it became apparent that humans would, after all, fly like birds!
Kitty Hawk’s successful flight acted as a catalyst for the aviation community, and it didn’t take long for regular people to take an interest in aviation too. Finally, the aviation community was more than just a collection of enthusiasts, engineers, and scientists.
Once the public got involved, there was a huge spike in the interest to fly – and this interest is what laid the foundation for the birth of the modern aviation industry.
Role of Light Aircraft in the Community
Light aircraft were the backbone of the aviation industry in the early years. Since our understanding of materials was limited, and engineers were still working on building larger engines, light aircraft were the primary choice for every enthusiast.
Big-pocketed investors started to invest heavily in establishing a separate manufacturing industry for planes – and during World War I, the aviation industry saw a huge boom owing to the involvement of the military and its vast resources to build better and more efficient planes.
After the war, there was an abundance of parts and the interest in aviation was at an all-time high. This is when the aviation community truly started to flourish. Enthusiasts and engineers began scavenging and buying extra parts at a lower rate and thanks to their passion for aviation, they began building their own light aircraft.
The progress was slow, but within a few years, the amateur aviation industry became large enough to start commercial operations, mainly in the context of teaching people how to fly.
The aviation community was brought together for their love of light aircraft and within just a decade, the community had already spread worldwide with every country having a range of its own flying clubs.
Flying clubs in the UK are considered to be one of the best in the world. There are several reasons for this. The first is that there are a lot of scenic routes to choose from in and around the UK and the local flight clubs operate at a very high standard of quality.
Furthermore, the aviation community in the UK is known to be one of the most active communities in the world. So much so that aviation enthusiasts from all around the world would travel to the UK just to attend the many aviation-related events that are held around the year.
Every great flight club, like Sherburn Aero Club, offers a range of light aircraft that pilots can enjoy. There are primarily two types of light aircraft that are accessible to private and commercial pilots: fixed-wing aircraft, and flex-wing aircraft.
Fixed-wing aircraft are designed to be smaller versions of larger aircraft and they have a separate fan base due to their versatility. For example, fixed-wing aircraft can be used for leisure flying, training, and even sports! Fixed-wing aircraft are the primary choice for people who want to get into air racing, and you will find several modified light aircraft designed by enthusiasts.
Flex-wing aircraft are similarly popular due to their unique flying experience. These aircraft are designed with an open cockpit where the pilots are exposed to the elements at high altitudes. They are the best choice for people who want a thrilling and freeing flying experience. Just like fixed-wing aircraft, flex-wings also have a fan base, and their popularity keeps on increasing every year.
Light Aircraft Flying Club Community - What You Can Expect
If you join a flight club, then you will be offered more than just training. Candidates are offered the unique opportunity to connect with other enthusiasts and we guarantee that the bonds that you form in flight schools are bound to remain with you for the rest of your life.
Here are some of the things that you can expect when you join a flight school:
A Motivational Circle
When you are put in a room with people who all share the same passion, you are likely to remain motivated throughout your training. Aircraft training may seem easy from the outside, but it requires quite a lot of focus and patience. Many people who fail to form friendships early in their training seem to get either disinterested or demotivated.
However, flight schools make it a point to promote an environment that fosters growth and keeps candidates motivated. If you are enthusiastic about planes and flying, then you are bound to meet people with the same level of passion as you – and once you bond with these people, you will likely become lifelong friends.
Never a Boring Day
The best thing about aviation is that there is always something to learn or do. The aviation community is one of the most active communities in the world. There are regular interactions between candidates and even experienced pilots. You also have the opportunity to meet your heroes or experienced pilots and learn everything that they have to offer.
The aviation community also regularly hosts meetups, events, and special outings that are designed to strengthen bonds. Once you get your license, you can even plan your own trip with your aviation buddies. Whether it is a quick flyby or a visit to a spectacular and scenic route, you will get to share these precious moments with your friends!
Mentoring Sessions and Collaborations
Perhaps the best thing about aviation is that it is very accessible to everyone. There are no strict hierarchies in the aviation community, and everyone can meet anyone. For example, a new candidate can meet with experienced pilots and learn everything that they have to offer. If anything, just meeting your heroes is enough motivation to keep you going throughout your training.
The tips and tricks that experienced pilots share can either help you progress quicker in your training, or even better, they can help you change your perspective on life. The aviation community is all about supporting each other so you can be sure that once you form a mentor-mentee bond, you will always have someone to watch your back.
The aviation community also offers a lot of benefits to older and more experienced pilots. For example, fellow pilots can take up a restoration project for a light aircraft. They can also come up with business ideas and pursue them as a team!
The aviation community also tries to promote healthy competition where pilots can compete in a friendly way to see who can set better records. If you are the competitive type and want to progress, then you might just get your fix by joining a flight club community.
Social Networking
One of the key aspects of joining a flight club in the modern world is that you get to connect with not just the people in your flight club, but virtually any flight club in the world. There are several online communities dedicated to aviation where people can meet up online and make new friends across borders.
If you are a social butterfly, then joining a flight club community might be the best decision that you make. The potential for social networking in aviation is huge and you can make bonds that last a lifetime.
Whether you are a new pilot or a trainee, there are no limitations for you to meet and connect with other like-minded individuals. In fact, many flight clubs already have online communities, where they welcome enthusiasts from all around the world.
This is an important factor because it allows pilots to expand their horizons and learn more about the aviation industry as a whole. For example, if your country is hosting a big aviation-related event, then you can send an invite to your fellow pilots abroad.
Another great way to network with international pilots is to regularly attend airshows and expos. These events are often large and attract people from all over the globe. For example, the Aero Expo in the UK is an incredibly important event that brings together pilots from all geographies. You don’t just get to meet people at these events, but there are also special mini-events like speeches, seminars, presentations, and even air competitions that you can enjoy with your fellow pilots.
Flight schools, like Sherburn Aero Club, regularly provide information about upcoming events and may even host airshows of their own which is why we highly recommend that you pick a flight school that provides not just top-notch training but also a community where you can make lifelong relationships.
WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB
Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran in various types of light aircraft.
The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation in the long run.
With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, we cater to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running the first Sunday of every month.
In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.
Call us at 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on light aircraft, training requirements, licencing procedures, as well as experience flights and pilot training at Sherburn.
Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash
